Take a gander at "The Budapest Memorandum 1994".
Form your own opinions.
I won't even begin to claim I fully understand the details.
But if I correctly understand the intent of this agreement it goes something like this????
Dispose of all destructive nuclear weapons left behind by the dismantled soviet union and all efforts to further develop a nuclear weapons program. In turn "we" the USA, Germany other NATO countries as well as.....ready???...RUSSIA....YES RUSSIA!! will protect you from aggressors.
If it's this simple I feel ashamed, sickened and horrible for the people of Ukraine.
There have been so many of the "Ukraine is not a member of NATO so there's really nothing we can do" statements from forums to world governments to the water cooler ar work.
I beg to differ per the "Budapest Memorandum of 1994".
Please feel free to give insight and explain to me why my understanding of this is wrong.
I'm begging you....PLEASE TELL ME WE WEREN'T A MAJOR CONTRBUTOR TO FUCKING THESE PEOPLE!